$7K worth of cigarettes stolen

Friday

One thief distracted the clerk; the other made off with the boxes at a Kangaroo Express early Thursday.

Two men stole more than $7,000 worth of cigarettes from an Ocala convenience store early Thursday.

Ocala police officers reviewed surveillance video from the Kangaroo Express at 3873 SW College Road. It showed two men entering the business at 3 a.m., then leaving when two customers came in.

The men returned 15 minutes later. The taller of the two — he wore light colored jeans and a gray hoodie that covered most of his face and mouth with a skull print — asked an employee for a Monster energy drink. Although the employee told the man she did not have that drink in stock, he insisted she go to the cooler and look for the item.

While the employee was distracted, the second man — he stood approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall and wore a black hat, black jacket and dark pants — is shown on video sneaking around the counter. He picked up large boxes containing cigarettes, put them on the counter, then took them outside.

The brazen theft was discovered about 4:45 a.m., when a second employee came to work and reported that the cigarette boxes, which had been delivered to the store about 2 a.m., were missing.

Anyone with information can call the Ocala Police Department at 369-7000. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.